Skip to main content

Syrian Kurdish authorities issue work cards for children

The Child Protection Office affiliated with the Kurdish-led Autonomous Administration in Manbij has started issuing work cards for children ages 10 to 18, in a move it claims aims to avoid forced conscription by the Syrian Democratic Forces.
Displaced young Syrian boys work at a makeshift oil refinery near the village of Tarhin in an area under the control of Turkish-backed factions in the northern countryside of Aleppo, Syria, Feb. 25, 2021.

The Child Protection Office, affiliated with the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria’s Committee of Social Affairs and Work in Manbij, a city controlled by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), started issuing work cards for children ages 10 to 18 in late June. 

The decision is the first of its kind in northeastern Syria and may be extended to all areas under the control of the Kurdish-led Autonomous Administration. To receive the card, the family must submit identification papers confirming the age of the child, the type of work involved and the work hours. 

Access the Middle East news and analysis you can trust

Join our community of Middle East readers to experience all of Al-Monitor, including 24/7 news, analyses, memos, reports and newsletters.

Subscribe

Only $100 per year.